Onela

This character was a son of Ongentheow, and king of Swedes, one of the tribes to the Geats. In an attempt to forge alliances and prevent blood feuds, Onela married a Danish princess, the daughter of Halfdane and sister of Hrothgar. However, pretty much everyone in Beowulf recognized that this attempt at ‘’peace weaving’’ —preventing war through inter-tribal marriage—was doomed to failure. Eventually, war will break out again between the Swedes and Danes. Despite this fact, the narrator of the poem shows respect for Onela's prowess in battle and strength as a king.